Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in patients awaiting heart transplant in Southern Italy

Background Bartonella henselae is the etiologic agent of cat-scratch disease. B. henselae infections are responsible for a widening spectrum of human diseases, although often symptomless, ranging from self-limited to life-threatening and show different courses and organ involvement due to the balance between host and pathogen. The role of the host immune response to B. henselae is critical in preventing progression to systemic disease. Indeed in immunocompromised patients, such as solid organ transplant patients, B. henselae results in severe disseminated disease and pathologic vasoproliferation. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of B. henselae in patients awaiting heart transplant compared to healthy individuals enrolled in the Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology of Second University of Naples. Methods Serum samples of 38 patients awaiting heart transplant in comparison to 50 healthy donors were examined using immunfluorescence assay. Results We found a B. henselae significant antibody positivity rate of 21% in patients awaiting heart transplant ( p = 0.002). There was a positive rate of 8% ( p > 0.05) for immunoglobulin (Ig)M and a significant value of 13% ( p = 0.02) for IgG, whereas controls were negative both for IgM and IgG antibodies against B. henselae . The differences in comorbidity between cases and controls were statistically different (1.41 ± 0.96 vs 0.42 ± 0.32; p = 0.001). Conclusions Although this study was conducted in a small number of patients, we suggest that the identification of these bacteria should be included as a routine screening analysis in pretransplant patients

Biliverdin Protects against Liver Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Swine

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in organ transplantation remains a serious and unsolved problem. Organs that undergo significant damage during IRI, function less well immediately after reperfusion and tend to have more problems at later times when rejection can occur. Biliverdin has emerged as an agent that potently suppress IRI in rodent models. Since the use of biliverdin is being developed as a potential therapeutic modality for humans, we tested the efficacy for its effects on IRI of the liver in swine, an accepted and relevant pre-clinical animal model. Administration of biliverdin resulted in rapid appearance of bilirubin in the serum and significantly suppressed IRI-induced liver dysfunction as measured by multiple parameters including urea and ammonia clearance, neutrophil infiltration and tissue histopathology including hepatocyte cell death. Taken together, our findings, in a large animal model, provide strong support for the continued evaluation of biliverdin as a potential therapeutic in the clinical setting of transplantation of the liver and perhaps other organs

Subcorneal Pustular Dermatosis in Childhood: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SCPD, also known as Sneddon-Wilkinson disease) is a rare, benign, chronic, sterile pustular eruption which usually develops in middle-age or elderly women; it is rarely seen in childhood and adolescence. the primary lesions are pea-sized pustules classically described as half-pustular, half-clear accid blisters. Histologically the most important feature is a subcorneal accumulation of neutrophils with the absence of spongiosis or acantholysis, although acantholysis may be reported in older lesions. In this paper we present the case of a 7-year-old boy diagnosed with SCPD based on the characteristic clinical and histological features. Dapsone has been successfully used in the treatment of the disease

Garlic extract prevents CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats: The role of tissue transglutaminase.

Tissue transglutaminase contributes to liver damage in the development of hepatic fibrosis. In a model of neurodegeneration, the therapeutic benefit of cystamine has been partly attributed to its inhibition of transglutaminase activity. Garlic extract contains many compounds structurally related to cystamine. We investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of garlic extract and cystamine as specific tissue transglutaminase inhibitors.Transglutaminase activity was increased in CCl(4) group and reduced by cystamine and garlic extract (p<0.05). Treatment with cystamine and garlic extract reduced the liver fibrosis and collagen deposition, particularly in the garlic extract group (p<0.01). Moreover, the liver damage improved and serum alanine aminotransferase was decreased (p<0.05). Tissue transglutaminase immunolocalised with collagen fibres and is mainly found in the ECM of damaged liver. Alpha-SMA, IL-1beta, tissue transglutaminase mRNA and tissue transglutaminase protein were down-regulated in the cystamine and garlic extract groups compared to control

Effect of Helicobacter Pylori infection on gastric cell proliferation and genomic instability in a paediatric population of southern Italy.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gastric cancer is high in areas with a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Cell transformation and tumour progression occur over a long period of time and markers of genomic instability usually precede morphological changes. AIM: To evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on cell proliferation, DNA status and oncogene expression in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Morphometric and immunohistochemical techniques were used to analyse DNA content, p53 and c-myc oncogene expression and cell proliferation on gastric biopsies of 53 children (27 Helicobacter pylori-negative and 26 Helicobacter pylori-positive). RESULTS: Gastric mucosa was normal in 11% of Helicobacter pylori-positive and in 33% of Helicobacter pylori-negative subjects. Most children had chronic non-atrophic gastritis regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection, and only a minority of children affected by Helicobacter pylori had mild atrophic gastritis. Cell proliferation was significantly higher in children with Helicobacter pylori-positive gastritis than in those with Helicobacter pylori-negative gastritis. No metaplasia, dysplasia, p53 overexpression or altered DNA content was found in any child. Interestingly, 46% of children with and 29% without Helicobacter pylori infection had c-myc overexpression closely related to the cell proliferation rate. CONCLUSION: Helicobacter pylori infection in children may coexist with a normal gastric mucosa, and it is not associated with genomic instability markers in cases of chronic gastritis

Garlic extract prevents CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats: The role of tissue transglutaminase

Background and aim: Tissue transglutaminase contributes to liver damage in the development of hepatic fibrosis. In a model of neurodegeneration, the therapeutic benefit of cystamine has been partly attributed to its inhibition of transglutaminase activity. Garlic extract contains many compounds structurally related to cystamine. We investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of garlic extract and cystamine as specific tissue transglutaminase inhibitors. Methods: Rat liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 7 weeks. Cystamine or garlic extract was administrated by daily intraperitoneal injection, starting from the day after the first administration of CCl4. Hepatic function, histology, tissue transglutaminase immunostaining and image analysis to quantify Red Sirius stained collagen deposition were examined. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to detect alpha-SMA, IL-1β and tissue transglutaminase expression and Western blot for tissue transglutaminase protein amount were performed. Transglutaminase activity was assayed on liver homogenates by a radio-enzymatic method. Results: Transglutaminase activity was increased in CCl4 group and reduced by cystamine and garlic extract (p<0.05). Treatment with cystamine and garlic extract reduced the liver fibrosis and collagen deposition, particularly in the garlic extract group (p<0.01). Moreover, the liver damage improved and serum alanine aminotransferase was decreased (p<0.05). Tissue transglutaminase immunolocalised with collagen fibres and is mainly found in the ECM of damaged liver. Alpha-SMA, IL-1β, tissue transglutaminase mRNA and tissue transglutaminase protein were down-regulated in the cystamine and garlic extract groups compared to controls. Conclusion: These findings concurrently suggest that transglutaminase may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and may identify garlic cystamine-like molecules as a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of liver injury

POLY (ADP-RIBOSE) POLYMERASE (PARP-1) EXPRESSION IN MALIGNANT MELANOMAS FROM PHOTO EXPOSED AREAS OF THE HEAD AND NECK REGION

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) incidence rate and related deaths are increasing faster than most of other skin malignancies with an incidence which has tripled during the last 40 years and continues to grow. Solar damage is the major environmental causal factor in all skin cancers, and intermittent intense exposure to sunlight and/or severe sunburn is also the most important risk factors for CMM. Basic research into UVR showed that DNA-repair via different pathways causes a cascade of cellular phenomena ranging from induction of pigmentation, to immunomodulation, acid radical defence, apoptosis, and oncogenes expression. The members of the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family proteins are directly involved in genomic stability, DNA repair and cell death triggered by DNA damage. However, their potential role in carcinogenesis has not been well evaluated. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of PARP-1 nuclear enzyme in a selected series of 80 cases of primary CMM from photo exposed areas, comparing the findings with the tumour thickness and with the follow-up data. Western-blot analysis was also performed on available tissue stored at -80°C from selected cases to confirm the immunohistochemical data. Data analysis showed a positive correlation between immunohistochemical PARP-1 nuclear over expression in both radial and vertical growt phases of CMM and a worse outcome of patients (P<0.05), irrespectively to the Breslow value. The Western-blot analysis showed that PARP-1 over expression was due only to the non-cleaved form of the enzyme. On the contrary, the overexpression of PARP-1 restricted to the vertical growth phase CMM did not showed any statistical correlation with the clinical behaviour of the tumours. Absence of PARP-1 overexpression in both radial and vertical growth phase was instead associated with a good prognosis of CMM. The analysis of PARP-1 expression may allow the detection of a subset of CMM with a more aggressive phenotype, which may benefit of closer follow-up and represents also a possible target for a more aggressive therapy

Effects of biliverdin on IRI-induced liver dysfunction.

<p><b>A</b>. Biliverdin was administered separately to both donors and recipients before surgery. Bile production as a measure of liver function was collected throughout the experiment and expressed as µl/hr/g liver. Control pigs show very little bile production during 12 hours of reperfusion. Note that biliverdin significantly improved bile production and thus is indicative of better liver function. Results are expressed as mean ± SD from 3 pigs/group. The increase in bile production is statistically significant comparing biliverdin vs Ctrl *p = 0.03. <b>B</b>. Effects biliverdin on urea production. Urea synthesis is expressed as the difference (Δ) of the urea concentration as µg/L/g liver. Results are expressed as means ± SD of 3 pigs/group. *p = 0.022 <b>C</b>. Effects of biliverdin on ammonia clearance. Biliverdin was administered as described above. Ammonia was measured in the serum and the clearance is expressed as a difference (Δ) in ammonia in µmol/L between the inflow and outflow ports of the perfused liver. Results are expressed as mean ± SD of 3 pigs/group. The Δ ammonia clearance is statistically significant between the biliverdin treated vs Ctrl groups, *p = 0.027. <b>D</b>. Effects of biliverdin on serum AST levels<b>.</b> Venous blood samples were taken before and every 2 hours after graft reperfusion and expressed as calculation of the total amount of serum AST released throughout the 12 hr experiment. Livers from untreated controls showed a significant increase in AST levels indicating severe liver damage. Administration of biliverdin prevented the damage and release of AST into the serum vs Ctrl *p = 0.021. Results are mean ± SD of 3 pigs/group.</p